Since Oda didn't seem to need to retire and seek a new career when Shintaro was born or when his wife became pregnant again, I'm going to guess they can manage financially with him skating. Not that it's any of our business.

Skating is not a proper job???!!? I have a friend who is an acupuncturist and people keep asking her when she's going to get a 'real' job. Says a lot about people and how they view the world... *sigh*

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I think when the initial post talked about getting a "proper job", it might have been in reference to getting a more financially lucrative job. Not everyone on FSU's first language in english.

On that topic, does the JSF have an exceptionally generous funding program for their national team for Oda to be able to support two children?

I can't imagine he has a lot of $$ coming in from endorsements, especially with no World/Olympic medals, and living in the shadow of his more accomplished Japanese teammates. Perhaps he or his wife come from a wealthy family.

LOL! Because I remember how Oda has complained how hard it is to be away from his son and how financially difficult it is for his family. I just wondered that now that he has two sons, it will be twice as difficult and expensive.

The Japanese skaters are like celebrities in their country with numerous shows and televised events spreading their fame and popularity. This isn't the US we're talking about here.

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I understand that skaters like Asada, Takahashi, Hanyu, Ando, Suzuki are big celebrites in Japan. They are all World medalists and are the current stars in Japan.

I'm surprised that Oda is so popular in Japan and that he's getting multiple endorsements/shows, since he isn't even among the top 3 Japanese men. I recall reading a thread about Fumie Suguri, a multiple World medalist and National Champion, who was struggling to find sponsors/endorsements/funding. I realize that Suguri is well past her prime (many people would argue Oda is as well), but her past accomplishments would certainly justify more "celebrity" status then Oda.

And I'm not sure how the Japanese public regards Oda's issues with drunk driving, but you'd think that would be a strike against him.

By the time michael weiss ended his career in 2006 he had two kids. So I think if skating is more popular in japan and even if oda doesn't have a world medal like weiss did I think oda is in a more lucrative environment so it can be juggled and it's not like odas wife would be incapable of working if she has to. Or if Oda has to.

By the time michael weiss ended his career in 2006 he had two kids. So I think if skating is more popular in japan and even if oda doesn't have a world medal like weiss did I think oda is in a more lucrative environment so it can be juggled and it's not like odas wife would be incapable of working if she has to.

^ It depends on what type of support Oda and his wife have around them. Weiss parents and sisters all lived around the same area as he and his wife, so I'm sure he and his wife had a lot of support to help them with the kids whild Weiss was concentrating on training for 2006.

Skating may be more popular in Japan, but I think it's still only a few very top skaters that are raking in the endorsements and appearances' fees. I don't know how Oda's star stacks against the other top male skaters.

By the time michael weiss ended his career in 2006 he had two kids. So I think if skating is more popular in japan and even if oda doesn't have a world medal like weiss did I think oda is in a more lucrative environment so it can be juggled and it's not like odas wife would be incapable of working if she has to.

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There are also a fair number of skaters who became parents during their competitive careers - Alexander Abt, Olivier Schoenfelder, Isabelle Delobel, Dmitri Soloviev, Tatiana Navka and Mark Ladwig are a few examples. While two children do require more resources, I'm sure Nobunari and his wife made sure that they had the resources and support they need.

Now that I think of it, Oda is the first of two skaters who became fathers of two this past week - followed a day later by Evgeni Plushenko

LOL! Because I remember how Oda has complained how hard it is to be away from his son and how financially difficult it is for his family. I just wondered that now that he has two sons, it will be twice as difficult and expensive.

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I cant understand why your question made people have nervous breakdowns. One poster is on a damn skating sight POSTING about public figures and had the NERVE to type " not that it's any of our business." Ironic right? Anyway, I get the gist of what you mean. I suppose that i just thought that he was making decent money because his federation pays. Could be wrong. Anyway, It's most common that skaters have babies after their careers. By proper i think you meant a common job perhaps? 9-5 ish if you will.

As for the "proper" job issue... Nobunari talked quite a lot about his possible career choices. Actually, he planned to retire as a skater after Olympics 2010:

After Torino, there's Vancouver too. I'm 18 now, so in four years I'll be 22. I'll go to college for five years, and the fifth year will be the year of Vancouver, so then I'll graduate. I want to become a schoolteacher in the future. I'm an English major right now, and I love English, so I'd like to become a high school English teacher if possible. (...) That's right, I like school. Lots of friends are at school! If I become a teacher, I want to share days of youth with my students. I'm sure it'll be fun!

I'll probably stop skating once I graduate from college. Since there are few rinks in Japan... even if I say I want to become a skating coach, there are a lot of coaches, so it'll be hard. But I might want to become a skating coach later in the future. If I think I want to skate again after becoming a schoolteacher... I'm sure I'll return to the rink.

The Olympics after Vancouver? I'll be 26... Can I do it at 26? I know Elvis [Stojko] and Todd [Eldredge] stayed amateur until they were about 30. I'm not injured right now and my body's fine, but I'm sure it'll be difficult to continue without knowing how my physical strength and muscles will be affected as the years go on. If I'm going to continue, I need to study more about that. I need to know my own body right now and what parts I should train.
(quote from Cutting Edge 2005, translation by one of the FSU users... I'm so sorry, I forgot who I got the link from )

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And from Bravo, a TV show aired on 19th September 2006:

When the Olympics (2010) are over, I'll probably become an English teacher. I'll do my best to become an English teacher, wait a bit, then get married. I'll work hard to save money, buy a house, then buy a huge dog and have five children.

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(Rough translation by me, sorry if there are any mistakes! It was difficult to make out half the words because someone next to the microphone (either Daisuke or the camera operator) had giggle fits ).

More recently, I saw Nobunari helping to coach kids at the Kansai Uni rink during his off-season (although I have no information on wheter he continues to work as a volunteer or moved on to being employed). He also appeared on a Dream Kids with Yamamoto Sota, a novice skater, helping him to improve his 3L (and having fun at a fun park). Judging from the interviews, I think he might be warming up to the idea of becoming a coach again, now that there is more interest in figure skating, the Kansai Uni rink is doing well and there a lot of promising young skaters there.

Does anyone know the details of the funding the JSF offers to members of the national team, and what constitutes the national team? In the US and Canada, I believe it's public information, so I'm curious how that compares to Japan.